Gauging interest for PnP Megasquirt solution, MS anyone? Options

[JamesM]

For my most recent Megasquirt install i went a different route and had some mini-MS boards produced. It did not make a lot of sense to just have one PCB printed so needless to say i have more then a few empty boards laying around. Now i am trying to decide if it is worth my time and money to build these boards out and sell them as a plug n play solution for d-jet cars.

For those who don't know, mini-ms is electronically compatible with megasquirt 2.2 however the components are arranged tighter on the board and it integrates the relay board all on a form factor smaller then the original MS. My first couple of installs i used a standard megasquirt 2.2 with relay board and DB-37 cable but the mini-ms seemed like the better way to go so that is what i am playing with now.

The setup i a running right now looks almost stock, the mini-ms is enclosed completely in a gutted d-jet brain and plugs directly into the d-jet harness. the only difference from stock is a MAP line running to the brain and the 2 injector ground wires being run back as well. You have to look close to tell its not stock, however i have a feeling i could make it even more stealth by hiding the MAP sensor in an old MPS in order to get rid of the vac line to the ECU. I just have not cared enough to cut up an MPS yet.

The great part about this system is it makes troubleshooting way easier and eliminates the need for stock trigger points, MPS. ECU, decell valve, and cold start injector, though they can all be left in place if desired in order to appear stock. It also allows for cool things if you desire like closed loop operation with a wideband O2 sensor, spark control, rev limiters, traction control, and a bunch of other stuff depending on how far you want to take it. It can be tuned around just about anything, so its great if you want to change cams or go bigger on your motor and still look stock.

So is there any interest out there for this sort of thing or should i just dump the empty boards on ebay or something?

[roadster fan]

I think Jeff brings up some valid points. I think using the term plug n play is probably a stretch, but for the advanced DIY'er it could feel like PnP. I think marketing the system with a base fuel map for 1.7 and 2.0 cars would sell a few kits as that would get the beginner MS user close to a working setup.

In fact you would probably be better off in my opinion selling your expertise in the base setups for stock engine configs and leave the hardware to the end user. Make recommendations, or show what worked for you hardware wise, then sell the mini-MS boards and base setup. I would be more inclined to go MS if I had a good basis to start from to reduce the risk of destroying my motor but like the idea of tinkering with programmable EFI.

I would think anyone using an original harness would be foolish to attempt to adapt it to MS. Jeff has seen more harnesses than most of us, and the few I have seen were thrashed. In fact I am amazed my 1.7 harness still works, gonna have to address that this year (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I think the discussion is productive as a solution for djet cars is inevitable in my humble opinion as parts continue to become scarce and pricey.

Just my .02

Jim